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Sprouts Farmers (SFM) Q2 Earnings Miss Estimate, Decline Y/Y
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Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.’s (SFM - Free Report) positive earnings surprise streak came to an end with second-quarter 2019 results. The bottom line fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, after surpassing the same in the preceding three quarters. The top line also came below the consensus mark. While net sales continued to increase year over year, earnings declined for the second straight quarter. Following the results, the company also revised full year guidance.
We note that this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock has plunged roughly 23% in the past six months compared with the industry’s decline 5%.
Let’s Delve Deeper
Sprouts Farmers reported quarterly earnings of 30 cents a share that missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny and fell 6% from the year-ago period. This was owing to the adoption of the new lease accounting standard and a tough sales environment. Definitely, higher cost of sales and increased SG&A expenses also acted as deterrents. We note that even lower shares outstanding failed to act as a savior.
Management now projects 2019 earnings in the band of $1.05-$1.09 per share, which is below the prior-year reported figure of $1.29 and the current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.21. The company also informed that the lease accounting standard change will result in a net incremental expense of 4 cents a share for the full year. Earlier, the company had projected earnings in the range of $1.18-$1.24 per share.
Net sales came in at $1,415.7 million, up 7% from the prior-year quarter on account of comparable store sales growth of 0.1% and robust performance in new outlets. We note that net sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,445 million.
Management now envisions net sales growth of 7-8% for the full year with comparable store sales expected to remain flat. The company had previously forecast net sales growth of 9-10.5% and comparable store sales to improve in the range of 1.5-3%.
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Gross profit jumped 6% to $464.8 million during the quarter. However, gross margin contracted 35 basis points to 32.8% owing to cost inflation, and marginally higher distribution and transportation expenses. Management envisions full year gross margin to decrease 20-30 basis points year over year.
Operating income came at $51.3 million, down 17% from the year-ago period. Further, operating margin shrunk 110 basis points to 3.6%. While adjusted EBITDA declined 8% to $81.5 million, adjusted EBITDA margin shriveled 90 basis points to 5.8%.
SG&A expenses rose 9% to $383.1 million, while as a percentage of sales the same increased 60 basis points to 27.1%. Excluding the impact of the adoption of the new lease accounting standard, SG&A deleveraged 20 basis points.
SG&A expenses rose on account of investments in new outlets, higher interchange fees and increased costs related to the expansion of the home delivery program. Management expects SG&A to increase roughly 10.5% year over year.
Store Update
During the quarter under review, Sprouts Farmers opened six new outlets. The company has opened five more stores so far in the third quarter, taking the total count to 331 stores in 21 states as of Aug 1, 2019. The company plans to open about 28 stores in 2019.
Other Financial Aspects
Sprouts Farmers ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $58.6 million, long-term debt and finance lease liabilities of $526.9 million and shareholders’ equity of $531.6 million.
The company generated cash flow from operations of $249.2 million and incurred capital expenditures (net of landlord reimbursements) of $84 million during 26-week period ended on Jun 30, 2019. Management plans to invest $170-$175 million in capital expenditures (net of landlord reimbursements) during 2019.
The company bought back 2.4 million shares of worth $163 million during the aforementioned period. At the end of the quarter, the company still had $55 million available under its share buyback program.
McCormick & Company (MKC - Free Report) delivered positive earnings surprises in the last two reported quarters. It carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Mondelez International (MDLZ - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 7.7%.
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Sprouts Farmers (SFM) Q2 Earnings Miss Estimate, Decline Y/Y
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.’s (SFM - Free Report) positive earnings surprise streak came to an end with second-quarter 2019 results. The bottom line fell short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate, after surpassing the same in the preceding three quarters. The top line also came below the consensus mark. While net sales continued to increase year over year, earnings declined for the second straight quarter. Following the results, the company also revised full year guidance.
We note that this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock has plunged roughly 23% in the past six months compared with the industry’s decline 5%.
Let’s Delve Deeper
Sprouts Farmers reported quarterly earnings of 30 cents a share that missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny and fell 6% from the year-ago period. This was owing to the adoption of the new lease accounting standard and a tough sales environment. Definitely, higher cost of sales and increased SG&A expenses also acted as deterrents. We note that even lower shares outstanding failed to act as a savior.
Management now projects 2019 earnings in the band of $1.05-$1.09 per share, which is below the prior-year reported figure of $1.29 and the current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.21. The company also informed that the lease accounting standard change will result in a net incremental expense of 4 cents a share for the full year. Earlier, the company had projected earnings in the range of $1.18-$1.24 per share.
Net sales came in at $1,415.7 million, up 7% from the prior-year quarter on account of comparable store sales growth of 0.1% and robust performance in new outlets. We note that net sales missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,445 million.
Management now envisions net sales growth of 7-8% for the full year with comparable store sales expected to remain flat. The company had previously forecast net sales growth of 9-10.5% and comparable store sales to improve in the range of 1.5-3%.
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. Quote
Margins
Gross profit jumped 6% to $464.8 million during the quarter. However, gross margin contracted 35 basis points to 32.8% owing to cost inflation, and marginally higher distribution and transportation expenses. Management envisions full year gross margin to decrease 20-30 basis points year over year.
Operating income came at $51.3 million, down 17% from the year-ago period. Further, operating margin shrunk 110 basis points to 3.6%. While adjusted EBITDA declined 8% to $81.5 million, adjusted EBITDA margin shriveled 90 basis points to 5.8%.
SG&A expenses rose 9% to $383.1 million, while as a percentage of sales the same increased 60 basis points to 27.1%. Excluding the impact of the adoption of the new lease accounting standard, SG&A deleveraged 20 basis points.
SG&A expenses rose on account of investments in new outlets, higher interchange fees and increased costs related to the expansion of the home delivery program. Management expects SG&A to increase roughly 10.5% year over year.
Store Update
During the quarter under review, Sprouts Farmers opened six new outlets. The company has opened five more stores so far in the third quarter, taking the total count to 331 stores in 21 states as of Aug 1, 2019. The company plans to open about 28 stores in 2019.
Other Financial Aspects
Sprouts Farmers ended the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $58.6 million, long-term debt and finance lease liabilities of $526.9 million and shareholders’ equity of $531.6 million.
The company generated cash flow from operations of $249.2 million and incurred capital expenditures (net of landlord reimbursements) of $84 million during 26-week period ended on Jun 30, 2019. Management plans to invest $170-$175 million in capital expenditures (net of landlord reimbursements) during 2019.
The company bought back 2.4 million shares of worth $163 million during the aforementioned period. At the end of the quarter, the company still had $55 million available under its share buyback program.
Stocks to Consider
General Mills (GIS - Free Report) has a long-term earnings growth rate of 7% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
McCormick & Company (MKC - Free Report) delivered positive earnings surprises in the last two reported quarters. It carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Mondelez International (MDLZ - Free Report) , with a Zacks Rank #2, has a long-term earnings growth rate of 7.7%.
Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential
The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.
Zacks has just released Century of Biology: 7 Biotech Stocks to Buy Right Now to help investors profit from 7 stocks poised for outperformance. Our recent biotech recommendations have produced gains of +98%, +119% and +164% in as little as 1 month. The stocks in this report could perform even better.
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